‘INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, Not Dead’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed as fake a social media report claiming that its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had died in a London hospital.

Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, who made the clarification in a statement on Saturday, urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour, saying Yakubu is alive, hale and hearty.

Oyekanmi also noted that the INEC chairman has not travelled to London in the last two years, contrary to the fake report.

“He was present at an interactive meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on Wednesday, 11th December 2024.

“He also chaired the Commission’s meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, 12th December 2024. Both events were widely covered on television and reported on the front pages of most newspapers yesterday, Friday, December 2024.

“The public may recall that mischief-makers on social media carried a similar fake story in 2021. Three years later, they are spreading the same rumour again.

“Those who indulge in this practice, as well as those who spread it, should be mindful of its effect not only on the individual but also the wider society.

“The Commission will continue to work with genuine media professionals to combat the scourge of fake news and the danger it poses to society.”